Jeff Howard and Antonio Wiley are Honored as First Team All-LSC South Selections

PORTALES, NM - Junior linebacker Jeff Howard (Portales, NM/Portales HS) and junior cornerback Antonio Wiley (Dallas, TX/Samuell HS), who helped Eastern New Mexico University rank second in the Lone Star Conference in total defense, have been named First Team All-LSC South in voting by the LSC South head coaches. ENMU, which finished the 2003 season with a 6-5 overall record (2-4 LSC South), also placed six Greyhounds on the Second Team. Five Eastern players received Honorable Mention.

A total of 13 ENMU players were selected to the First Team, Second Team or Honorable Mention. The First Team included 30 athletes from the seven LSC South football squads, while the Second Team and the Honorable Mention list each featured an additional 30 players.

Eastern recorded its eighth winning season in ten years under Head Coach Harold "Bud" Elliott. It was also ENMU's sixth consecutive winning season since 1998. Elliott moved to within one win of the 200-mark for career victories, as his record over 36 seasons improved to 199-174-9 (.533), including 62-44-2 (.583) in 10 years at Eastern.

ENMU opened the season with four consecutive victories and was ranked 19th in the NCAA Division II Poll released on September 30. The Greyhounds remained ranked for two more weeks, before receiving their second loss of the season on October 18.

1st Team All-LSC South

Howard was named to the All-Conference team for the first time. He led Eastern's defense with 85 total tackles. He also led the team in assisted tackles (46) and in tackles for losses (14 for 43 yards). He tied for the team lead with two fumble recoveries, and was credited with two pass break-ups, two quarterback hurries and one forced fumble. In three seasons at ENMU, he has accumulated 133 total tackles, including 68 unassisted stops. He also has 20 career tackles for losses (54 yards lost) and 3.0 quarterback sacks (19 yards lost). Howard was named LSC South Defensive Player-of-the-Week for his efforts in ENMU's 10-3 win over Texas A&M University-Commerce on Oct. 14. He recorded seven tackles (three for losses) against the Lions, and also recovered a fumble in the end zone at the conclusion of a goal line stand by the Hounds.

Wiley also was named to the All-LSC South squad for the first time. He provided a total of 20 tackles for the Greyhounds, including 15 unassisted tackles. He was given the most difficult pass coverage assignment each week and did an outstanding job of limiting catches by the opponents' top receivers. He was credited with one pass break-up and one fumble recovery, but many of his successful plays didn't result in individual stats as the opposing quarterback was forced to throw away from Wiley's coverage. In three years at Eastern, he has contributed 45 tackles, with 34 unassisted stops (75.6%). He also has recorded six pass break-ups and two fumble recoveries during the past three seasons.

2nd Team All-LSC South

Four of Eastern's six players named Second Team All-LSC South were on offense. The list included junior quarterback Steven Hinson (Olney, TX/Olney HS), sophomore running back Dwayne Davis (Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS), sophomore wide receiver Derrick Hunter (Lamesa, TX/Lamesa HS) and sophomore offensive guard Robert Acuna Jr. (Alice, TX/Angelo State University). Defensive players named to the Second Team were junior defensive tackle Brandon Wickware (Floydada, TX/Floydada HS) and junior outside linebacker Adrian Quigley (Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS).

Hinson supplied nearly 50% of Eastern's offense, as he gained 1,856 total yards, while helping the Greyhounds achieve 3,882 yards overall (352.9 yards per game). He was ENMU's leading rusher with 831 yards and nine touchdowns on 199 carries. He also completed 70 of 160 passes for 1,025 yards and eight touchdowns.

Hinson rushed for a season-high 158 yards against Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and had three 100-yard games for the year. He was the LSC South Offensive Player-of-the-Week on Oct. 11 for his 277 total yards (135 rushing, 142 passing) and three touchdowns (1 rushing, 2 passing) in Eastern's 31-0 Homecoming victory over Angelo State. He rushed for three TDs and threw for one score in the Hound's 45-14 win over New Mexico Highlands on Sept. 13.

Davis, who was the LSC South Freshman-of-the-Year in 2002, ran for 624 yards and five touchdowns on 115 carries. He rushed for 109 yards on 18 carries against Midwestern State University. Davis also caught 12 passes for 137 yards and one touchdown. In two seasons, he has rushed for 1,450 yards on 249 carries, an average of 5.8 yards per attempt. He has scored 15 rushing touchdowns and has 16 TDs overall. Davis also was a Second Team All-LSC South selection in 2002.

Hunter topped Eastern's pass receiving chart for the second season in a row. He hauled in 29 passes for 619 yards and five touchdowns. Last year, he earned Honorable Mention All-LSC South recognition with 30 catches for 644 yards and three touchdowns. His totals as a freshman and a sophomore are 59 receptions for 1,263 yards. He has scored eight touchdowns, including a career-long 83-yard scoring strike against East Central University this year. Hunter also averaged 9.1 yards per punt return (7 for 64) and 17.2 yards per kickoff return (6 for 103) this season.

Acuna was one of the Greyhounds' most consistent offensive linemen. He provided ENMU with solid blocking on the right side of the line and saw action in all 11 games. He played through a leg injury early in the season, and remained a hard-working player for the Hounds all year. His efforts helped Eastern lead the LSC in rushing with 2,620 yards, an average of 238.2 yards per game. He also contributed to ENMU accumulating 3,882 total yards (352.9 yards per game), with nine games over 300 yards (plus one at 298 yards) and three games over 400 yards.

Wickware was a standout performer in the ENMU defensive line. He created problems for opposing offensive units throughout the season. He registered 37 total tackles and had 27 unassisted stops. He tied for second on the team with 10 tackles for losses (59 yards) and was second with 5.0 quarterback sacks for a team-high 41 yards. He also recovered two fumbles for the Greyhounds. Wickware and the rest of the Eastern defense allowed just 288.2 total yards per game, 110.5 rushing yards per game and 18.5 points per game, as ENMU ranked second in the LSC in all three categories. He has 61 tackles (13 for losses) in his career.

Quigley was Honorable Mention All-LSC South at defensive back each of the past two seasons. This year, he was nominated at outside linebacker. He registered 53 total tackles to rank fifth on the ENMU roster. He held third place on the team with 38 unassisted tackles and tied Wickware for second in tackles for losses (10 for 34 yards). He provided a quick and effective blitz, which allowed him to lead the Hounds with 5.5 sacks (27 yards). Quigley also broke up six passes, earned two quarterback hurries, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and blocked a kick. He was the LSC South Defensive Player-of-the-Week on Sept. 13, when he recorded five tackles (3 solo), earned two sacks, partially blocked a punt, and downed a punt at the 4-yard line.

Honorable Mention All-LSC South

Eastern New Mexico University put five players on the All-LSC South Honorable Mention list. The Honorable Mention selections were junior offensive tackle Daniel Lujan (Andrews, TX/Andrews HS), freshman place-kicker Lee Price (Holliday, TX/Holliday HS), senior defensive end E.J. Ume (Lubbock, TX/Estacado HS), junior defensive end B.J. Biggar (Kemp, TX/Kemp HS) and Courage Idemudia (Glenn Heights, TX/DeSoto HS).

Lujan combined with Second Team selection Robert Acuna Jr. to give ENMU a strong base on the right side of the offensive line. He was Eastern's only returning starter in the line, and played a key role in helping the Greyhounds lead the LSC with 238.2 rushing yards per game. He also was an important blocker on passing downs, as the Hounds allowed just 12 sacks for 87 yards lost in 11 games. Lujan contributed to Eastern's ball-control offense, which led the LSC with an average time of possession of 33:18.

Price finished his freshman season at the top of the ENMU scoring chart. He scored 57 points on 10 of 21 field goals and 27 of 29 extra points. He ranked fourth in the LSC in extra point percentage (93.1%) and was seventh in kick scoring with 52. points per game. Price was selected LSC South Special Teams Player-of-the-Week on Sept. 6, after tying an ENMU single game record with four field goals in an 18-17 season-opening victory at Adams State College. Price supplied the winning points against ASC on a 36-yard field goal with seven seconds left.

Ume achieved 31 tackles on the season, including 16 solo tackles. He recorded three tackles for losses and one quarterback sack. Many of his tackles came on big plays for the ENMU defense. He forced one fumble, broke up one pass and was credited with two quarterback hurries. Ume helped the Greyhounds limit opponents to just 3.1 yards per rush and 49.3% passing. He completed his ENMU career with 62 total tackles (31 solo), including six tackles for losses and 3.0 quarterback sacks.

Biggar was an Honorable Mention All-LSC South pick in 2001. He is an excellent pass rusher and has 9.0 career sacks for 62 yards lost. He also has earned 90 career tackles, with an impressive 62 unassisted tackles. This season, he made 34 tackles (23 solo), including seven tackles for losses (35 yards) and 3.0 sacks (20 yards). He recorded one quarterback hurry, broke up one pass and was credited with forcing one fumble. Biggar's efforts helped the Hounds limit opponents to 27% success on third down (41 of 151) and 24% on fourth down (4 of 17).

Idemudia registered 54 total tackles to rank fourth on the ENMU defense. He had 33 solo tackles, and also provided seven tackles for losses (29 yards) and 2.0 sacks (18 yards). He forced two fumbles, recovered two fumbles, intercepted a pass, broke up two passes and contributed one quarterback hurry. He increased his career totals to 100 total tackles, 75 unassisted tackles, 15 tackles for losses (64 yards) and 4.0 sacks (42 yards). He has caused four fumbles and has been credited with three fumble recoveries.

Honorable Mention All-LSC South

The following special award winners were selected by the LSC South Coaches: Coach-of-the-Year, Richard Cundiff, TAMU-Kingsville; Offensive Back-of-the-Year, Daniel Taylor (Jr., QB), TAMU-Kingsville; Receiver-of-the-Year, Anthony Armstrong (Jr., WR), West Texas A&M; Offensive Lineman-of-the-Year, Kevin Palmer (Sr., C), TAMU-Kingsville; Defensive Back-of-the-Year, Eddie Moton (Sr., DB), TAMU-Kingsville; Linebacker-of-the-Year, Jarred Williams (Sr., LB), TAMU-Commerce; Defensive Lineman-of-the-Year, Derrick Crawford (Sr., DL), TAMU-Commerce; Freshman-of-the-Year, Danieal Manning (Fr., DB), Abilene Christian.